[singlepic id=1102 w=268 h=400 float=left]The Bainbridge High School Lady Cats’ basketball team fell to the Warner Robins Demonettes 59-49 at home Saturday night, finishing as runners-up in the girls’ Region 1-AAAA tournament.

With the loss, the Lady Cats are 21-6 on the season but will still host a first-round game in the State AAAA tournament.

“Our kids played their hearts out but we had too many turnovers,” BHS girls’ Coach Latreisha Moon said.

The Lady Cats also played without their regular point guard, junior Briana Wade, who was ejected from Friday night’s semifinal game and has to sit out two games. Wade will also have to sit out the Lady Cats’ first round game.

The Lady Cats, who are a No. 2 seed in the state tournament, will play the No. 3 seed from Region 3, either on Friday or Saturday night at BHS’ gym. Region 3 includes schools from southern suburban Atlanta.

The Lady Cats still managed to play hard, keeping the game close throughout.

Both teams played good defense to start the game, with the score tied at 8-8 after the first quarter.

BHS senior April Thomas, who led all scorers with 27 points, had ten first-half points, including two three-pointers.

BHS was only down 18-16 with 2:23 left in the second quarter, but Warner Robins made good use of the full-court press and took a 26-19 halftime lead.

The game was tied at 28-28 with 5:45 left in the third quarter, with BHS applying strong defensive pressure. However, the Demonettes then scored 11 unanswered points and led 39-28 with 2:30 left in the 3rd. Warner Robins led by as many as ten points late in the third quarter, but the Lady Cats fought back, bringing the score back to 44-38 at the end of the third.

The Demonettes stretched back out to 51-41, but Thomas scored a layup and jumper in succession to make the score 51-45 with 3:20 to go in the game. Thomas was fouled twice and made four free throws, bringing the Lady Cats closer at 53-49 with 2:10 to go.

[singlepic id=1103 w=400 h=268 float=center]A Demonette was called for charging and with 1:32 to go and BHS just down by four, the large home court crowd was buzzing. Warner Robins again utilized the full-court press and after making two foul shots, began playing keepaway to end the ball game.

Warner Robins’ girls were led by Danielle Gazaway with 18 points and Diamond Hudson with eight points.

Other contributors to the Lady Cats’ effort were Bria Harris with seven points, Ri’Chana Jackson with six, Diamond Bouie with five, DeDe Cooper with two and Jasmine Kelly with two.

In the girls’ region consolation game played earlier on Saturday, Hardaway beat Northside-Warner Robins 69-66. Those teams will also advance to the state AAAA tournament as the third and fourth seeds from Region 1.